Indianapolis show choirs returned to the stage in late September and early October for their annual fall concerts.
For some groups, this was their first performance with a new cast of members since their spring shows in May. For others, this was their first show since summer bootcamp performances in late July, where they performed swiftly learned numbers in colorful camp t-shirts.
These fall shows were different. While below competition show quality, these shows were rehearsed, in costume, and on stage. While the repertoire and show structure differed across schools, one thing was consistent: these performers were excited to grace the stage again.
Center Grove Debtones perform at Fall Fest on September 18 in front of a sold-out crowd. (PHOTO: Nathan Ensley / @nensley.photography)
Center Grove
While Center Grove’s Fall Fest focused heavily on choral pieces, each competitive group performed a show choir number to get back in the groove of performing. In contrast to their final performance of the 2023-2024 school year in spring, a new batch of members joined and were eager to make a good first impression within the prestigious program. One of those new members was junior Olivia Reddick, who was new to CG’s women’s group, Debtones, following one year with CG's prep mixed group, Surround Sound.
“The most memorable part of Fall Fest was being able to perform with this group for the first time,” Reddick said. “Throughout the short time we’ve had this year so far, we have bonded so much, and we have a real sisterhood. It was so exhilarating to watch our connection as a group pay off on the stage during our performance.”
While Reddick noted that it’s important to develop a group connection off stage to benefit on-stage performance, the electric, physically demanding experience on stage with fellow performers can further that bond - as Debtones junior Paige Gordon attested.
“[The performance] was so energizing,” Gordon said. “The lights and the crowd gave us such a great feeling! We were able to perform for the first time as a group, and it made me feel so much closer to the girls! “
In addition to performances from all of Center Grove’s ensembles, their fall show featured several special acts, where smaller groups of performers worked on individual pieces to add to the show. Junior dance captain Ethan Wood of CG’s mixed group, Sound System, performed a tap duet to Bad Romance with Claire Lollar. While Wood has performed in group tap numbers in the past, this number put his tapping skills to the test.
“The most challenging aspect of the show this year had to be tapping for Bad Romance,” Wood said. “Before this number, I had only tapped for a couple masterclasses and for previous Sound System tap numbers, which I had never yet been in taps for.”
While the performance lasted less than an hour, it was enough time for performers to show off their hard work and be rewarded with applause. Sound System junior Kaylee Whitaker said that her moments on stage were indescribable.
“The feeling was all together electrifying,” Whitaker said. “It’s hard to even describe how it feels to be on that stage. Seeing the audiences faces light up and the roaring applause is a feeling nothing can come close to beating.”
Brownsburg
With no summer boot camp, Brownsburg’s fall show was the first time that audiences saw their new cast of performers. While the group was new, the set was not. Both of Brownsburg’s groups performed a number from their 2020 competition shows, which held special significance to both the choreographers and directors.
“The set was a throwback to an older show that our director and choreographer really loved and held deep to their heart, and with that constant reminder we all wanted to live up to those expectations and make them proud,” sophomore member of Spotlight Singers & Co. Fab Gisagara said.
As a first-year member, stepping onto the stage for the first time can be quite overwhelming. Gisgara later confessed that his nerves nearly caused him to feel sick.
“I felt so nervous before I went on stage that I almost threw up, but the moment I hit that first move and lyric I felt a rush of adrenaline and excitement that I had never felt before,” Gisgara said.
Memories can be made on and off the stage. For senior Kendall Myers of Starlight Voices, Brownsburg’s women’s group, the most unforgettable moment came long before her group took to the stage.
“The most memorable part of our fall set was when we sang our ballad for the first time all the way through in class. We all really connected and realized where our voices all fit in together.”
Lawrence North
In the past, Lawrence North’s fall show provided an initial glimpse into their competition show; however, their directors decided to switch things up this year and perform a separate choreographed number, junior Lillian Semere said.
“We did something different this year; instead of performing our show choir openers at our concert, we did a whole separate number for the fall,” Semere said. “It was an exhausting number, but so much fun!”
The number brought together both of Lawrence North’s show choirs, Legacy and Bella Bravada, for one combined number. This helped establish a connection between the two groups, which is further aided by the many doublers who are members of both groups, which include Semere and sophomore Ellie Ising.
“Our groups always get closer this time of year, Ising said. “It is such a fun time to be in choir because you get to learn new things while meeting new people.”
Members of Bella Bravada, LN’s women’s group, bonded a couple of days ahead of their fall concert with an emotional rehearsal of their choral piece.
“We did a bonding activity in Bella the Tuesday before our concert, and everyone was crying because it was a very emotional activity,” Semere said. “At the end, we all held hands and sang our concert piece, and it was just a beautiful moment together. It made singing it on stage all the more memorable and meaningful.”
Franklin Community
Two months following their summer bootcamp, Franklin Community hosted their fall concert, which provided a preview of the thrills of competition season, according to junior Madison Fleener of Heritage Singers, Franklin Community’s mixed group.
“[The most memorable moment was] definitely hearing the applause after our dance number,” Fleener said. “The crowd was so loud, if I closed my eyes, I would've thought we were at a competition! It was a great preview for the thrills of the upcoming season.”
Although this was Heritage Singers’ opening performance of the year, their director was not easy on them, pushing their vocal endurance to its limit.
“Our director chose a number with no dance break, so that was extremely difficult vocally,” Fleener said. “However, it was a great challenge for us to test our endurance and improve for competition season!”
In recent fall concerts, these groups evaluated their connection and performance as they brace for a demanding few months of learning songs for winter concerts and competition shows ahead. While these performers only got a concert or two to embrace the stage again, that brief burst of excitement will live with them as they prepare for competition season.
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